Air heating device for artists air brush

ABSTRACT

An air heating device provides a flexible tubular communicating channel for compressed air from a suitable source to an artist&#39;&#39;s air brush. A flexible heating element is disposed within the flexible tubular channel. The channel provides heated air for the artist&#39;&#39;s air brush and includes a separate valve controlled nozzle for directing heated air separately of the air brush.

United States Patent [1 1 Sanders AIR HEATING DEVICE FOR ARTISTS AIR BRUSH [76] Inventor: Ralph Sanders, 615 Park Rd.,

Pittsburgh, Pa. 15237 [22] Filed: May 25, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 256,902

[ Nov. 6, 1973 Primary Examiner-Richard A. Schacher Assistant Examiner-Andres Kashnikow Att0rney-Webster B. Harpman 57 ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl 239/135, 219/307, 219/374,

, 219/381, 239/413, 239/419 An air heating device provides a flexible tubular com- [51] Int. Cl B05b l/24 mlmlcating channel for compressed air from a Suitable Field of Search 239/132, 135,419, Source to an artists air brush- A flexible heating 239/413 312 314 130 139; 219/307 374 381 ment is disposed within the flexible tubular channel. The channel provides heated air for the artists air [56] References Ci d brush and includes a separate valve controlled nozzle UNITED STATES PATENTS for directing heated air separately of the air brush.

2,267,264 12/1941 Bland 219/381 2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 6 27 f 26 '1 he! 25 1 AIR HEATING DEVICE FOR'ARTISTS AIR BRUSH BACKGOUND OF THE INVENTION l.Field of the Invention This invention relates to an air heating device which may be substituted for the flexible tube normally emloyed to provide compressed air to an artists airbrush.

2. Description of the Prior Art Artists air brushes have heretofore been supplied with compressed air through v flexible tubing and no flexible tubing incorporating a flexible heating element is known. Heating elements have been disposed in rigid tubular conduits such as for example those shown in US. Pat. Nos. 1,998,776 and 3,034,726. This invention provides compressed airfor the artists air brush and incorporates means for heating the air to a desired degree and additionally provides a separate controlled nozzle whereb'ythe heated air can be directed at the work by the artist without directing the air through the air brush thereby facilitating drying the material being applied by the airbrush.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An air heating device for an artists air brush comprises a section of flexible tubing having coupling means at its opposite ends for establishing connection with a source of compressed air and an artists air brush. A flexible heating element is disposed longitudinally in said flexible tubing and power supply conductors extend from a junction box to a power source. A source of compressed air is also connected to the junction box. The artists brush is connected to the other end of the flexible tubing by an adapter which also incorporates a valve controlled nozzle. Switch means for the flexible heating element, which is electrically energized, are provided on the junction box. The usual air and material control valves of the artists air brush maintain their customary functions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In its simplest form the air heating device for artists air brushes comprises an elongated section of flexible tubing 10 having couplings l1 and 12 on its opposite ends as best seenin FIG. 3 of the drawings. The coupling 10 establishes communication between one end of the flexible tubing 0 and a junction box 13 which is illustrated in cross sectional detail in FIG. 1 of the drawings and may be seen to include an electric switch 14 having a' manually operated lever 15. The coupling 11 threadably engages an opening 16 in the junction box 13 and communicates with a passageway 17 therein. The passageway 17 also communicates with a tubular member 18 which is controlled by a valve 19 which is in turn in comunication with a compressed air source 20.

Electric conductors 21 extend from the switch 14 to a source of electrical energy and to one end of a flexible electric heating element 22 which is coiled in spaced convolutions around a flexible core 23 through which one portion of the heating element 22 extends axially.

By referring to FIG. 2 of the drawings an enlarged detail of the flexible heating element 22 may be seen disposed in spiral configuration about the flexible core 23 with a return portion of the element 22 extending axially thereof. The end of the flexible heating element 22 adjacent the junction box 13 connects directly with the electrical conductors 21 heretofore referred to.

By referring now to FIG. 3 of the drawings it will be seen that compressed air entering the junction box 13 from the tube 18 may be controlled volumewise by the valve 19 and that it will then flow through the junction box 13 and the flexible tube 10 to the coupling 12 and into an adapter 24. A threaded opening 25 in an upper surface of the adapter 24 receives a downwardly extending threaded portion 26 of an artists air brush, the barrel 27 of whichis positioned at right angles to the downward extension 26. The artists air brush includes a valved nozzle 28, the material supply cup 29 in which the ink or paint is disposed and a lever 30 which controls the valve element in the nozzle 28 as well as the compressed air introduced into the artists air brush. The adapter 24 includes a secondary nozzle 31 and a secondary valve lever 32 extends upwardly out of the adapter 24 so that actuation thereof opens a communicating passageway in the adapter which extends between the coupling and thereof where the heated air is introduced thereinto and the secondary nozzle 31.

Those skilled in the art will thus observe that the air heating device for an artists air brush as disclosed herein makes it possible for the artist to use his air brush in a conventional manner with either conventional temperature compressed air or heated air as desired and additionally makes it possible for the artist to direct air of conventional temperature or heated air through the secondary nozzle 31 on the work completed so as to quickly dry the same. It will further be seen that the adapter 24 which'connects the flexible tubing'lO to the air brush is but little larger than the conventional connection used in supplying a conventional artists air brush with compressed air and that the operation of the artists air brush is therefore not adversely affected by the same. The provision of the secondary nozzle 31 and the separate control valve lever 32 makes it possible for the artist to direct heated air at the finished work which is highly desirable in many air brushing techniques.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that the flexible electric heating element may comprise nichrome wire 3 strength and flexibility in the presense of elevated temperatures.

Although but one embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described it will be apparcut to those skilled in the art that various changes and therein in communication with said connection means and flexible tubing, means for supplying compressed air and electrical current to said juncton box and the air passageways and electrical conductors therein, a flexible electrical heating element positioned longitudinally in said flexible tubing and connected with said electrical conductors in said junction box for energization thereby, whereby air flowing through said flexible tubing is heated and delivered to said artists air brush.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 and wherein switch means are incorporated in said juction box in one of said conductors for controlling said flexible electric heating element.

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1. The combination of an artist''s air brush and an air heating device therefore, said device consisting of a length of flexible tubing, one end of which is connected with said air brush and having connection means on the opposite end therEof, a junction box having an air passageway therethrough and the electrical conductors therein in communication with said connection means and flexible tubing, means for supplying compressed air and electrical current to said juncton box and the air passageways and electrical conductors therein, a flexible electrical heating element positioned longitudinally in said flexible tubing and connected with said electrical conductors in said junction box for energization thereby, whereby air flowing through said flexible tubing is heated and delivered to said artist''s air brush.
 2. The combination set forth in claim 1 and wherein switch means are incorporated in said juction box in one of said conductors for controlling said flexible electric heating element. 